Why is MS all of a Sudden requiring to have an Alternate email address?

win11freak · 2026-08-30T01:09:27-0400

I was going to create a MS account but all of a sudden I prompted to create another email address to get the verification codes.
This is NONSENSE as Email Verification codes are not secure as they can be bypassed and i do not feel like creating another email just to get these codes.

Why not just use passkeys along with the Microsoft Authenticator app which are more secure. Why go with the old fashion of having Email verification codes?

At least a phone number option would have been more acceptable . But still not secure.

So eventually, I stayed with my other email account.

FreeBooter · 2026-08-30T02:21:48-0400

Microsoft requires an alternative email or phone number during sign-in when it triggers a "Help us secure your account" prompt, and there is no way to permanently bypass this step.

SlicEnDicE · 2026-08-30T02:32:48-0400

Because they ran out of emails to collect and now they need your help to collect more.
[TROLL]

No, seriously, FreeBooter is right. It is a way to help you recover a lost account.

win11freak · 2026-08-30T02:43:36-0400

Can I just create a temporary throw away alternate email account just to continue with the setup and then after that delete the throw away email account?

XxXxX · 2026-08-30T03:23:50-0400

i use my wifes hotmail email as verification and on my wifes system my hotmail email is used as verification
for us it just keeps things simple and inhouse.

best of luck Steve ..

win11freak · 2026-08-30T03:26:16-0400

Can I just create a temporary throw away alternate email account just to continue with the setup and then after that delete the throw away email account?

XxXxX · 2026-08-30T03:31:42-0400

win11freak said:
Can I just create a temporary throw away alternate email account just to continue with the setup and then after that delete the throw away email account?

only trouble with a throwaway email account is next time they ask to send a verification to that account it will no longer exist
an alternative permanent email account would be a better choice otherwise you could lock yourself out of your own account

edit.
reason .. when i updated my wifes PIN they asked to send a verification code which was sent to my account.
best of luck Steve ..

idgat · 2026-08-30T03:54:07-0400

I just love it when users don't hesitate to jump in for free email account, but when they see service provider's conditions, all of a sudden it's ... "Why do I have to ...", " Why can't I just ....", "Why do they need ...."

Plain and simple ... security.

win11freak said:
Can I just create a temporary throw away alternate email account just to continue with the setup and then after that delete the throw away email account?

You can, but I guarantee with that thought, you'll be back here sometime in the future with ... "Help. I can't get into my MS account because (insert any number of reasons) and they want the email ...."

On the other hand, come to think of it, you probable could create a temporary throw away account ... but they'll probably want a verification account for that. You can see where I'm going here ....

win11freak · 2026-08-30T04:24:02-0400

idgat said:
I just love it when users don't hesitate to jump in for free email account, but when they see service provider's conditions, all of a sudden it's ... "Why do I have to ...", " Why can't I just ....", "Why do they need ...."

Plain and simple ... security.

You can, but I guarantee with that thought, you'll be back here sometime in the future with ... "Help. I can't get into my MS account because (insert any number of reasons) and they want the email ...."

On the other hand, come to think of it, you probable could create a temporary throw away account ... but they'll probably want a verification account for that. You can see where I'm going here ....

Plain and simple ... security.

I also don't think that sending security verification codes over email and SMS text messages is good security practice.

Why is MS all of a Sudden requiring to have an Alternate email address?

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